Patience paves the way to beauty
I brought my set of travel watercolors with me on this trip. Watercolors aren’t my favorite medium (probably because they require patience and can be unpredictable) but they require little space in my luggage. I often doodle or explore with color when I want to rest my mind or wrestle with an idea or simply allow color to cheer me and inspire creativity.
In the beginning of the trip as I was still trying to slow down and settling in, I painting things that required zero patience. One sitting and it was done. However, as time passed and I relaxed into a slower pace, I decided to tackle a more challenging painting. One that required painting one layer, then drying, then painting, then drying, etc. Again, I’m very much a novice and I’m not sure if the final product will be as beautiful as I’d like, but the process feels satisfying.
Here’s the thing with the paint/dry/paint again process. If I‘m not patient with the drying phase, the next paint cycle will cause the paints to run and become muddy. Brown yuck is the outcome. However, patience allows a more detailed painting where the colors can retain their own identity and beauty emerges.
Life can be a lot like watercolors, I’ve discovered. I want the process of growth and learning to be quick. I want to rush through the hard parts and just get it right. I remember telling my grief therapist that I knew I was going to eventually be ok, but I didn’t like this painful part in the middle. I wanted to be on the other side of it (if there is such a thing). Impatience. I can also see my impatience in how I parented at times. I wanted my kids to grow and flourish and sometimes I tried to rush the process. My intentions were good but my impatience made a muddy mess at times. I could tell other examples and I’m guessing you have your own. Instead I’ll share a few photos.
You’ll can see the one-step paint sessions I completed. They’re all abstract in nature. Then, notice the one of Manarola - one of the villages in Cinque Terre. This one is at round 4 of paint and dry. It’s still not finished, but it’s going to resemble something other than abstract art when I’m finished.
God is currently reminding me of the importance of patience. He’s showing me how far I’ve come as I reflect on past seasons of my life. And, He’s inviting me to slow down to allow the beauty that comes from patience. He’s painting a good story with my life. It’s just not finished yet. Sometimes there’s the application of color and other times the winds blow dry before more paint can be applied. Each step brings more beauty and a closer reflection of what God is creating. I’m celebrating that today.
